Muzaffarnagar riots cast shadow over SP meet

Muzaffarpur riots cast a shadow over the two-day national executive meeting of Samajwadi Party here with leaders emphasising on the need to instill confidence among the party's core Muslim vote bank.
"In the backdrop of riots in Muzaffarnagar district and adjoining areas, leaders said there was need to ensure that the minority community had confidence in the party. We have suggested measures to keep the core Muslim votes intact," senior party leader Abu Asmi told PTI.
At the meeting, the leaders pointed out that Muzaffarnagar incident was a big challenge and the government was being attacked from all the corners on the issue.

"It was suggested that after the meeting the workers must go to the masses and inform them about the designs of some parties especially BJP involved in vitiating communal atmosphere of the state," he said.
Some leaders pointed out that there was a conspiracy by BJP to spread terror. They also said that an effort was being made to drift the core voters of the party.
The party, however, refrained from discussing law and order in Uttar Pradesh and did not even mention Muzaffarnagar violence.

Some leaders suggested that Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav should hold rallies in Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh as it will have a major impact on voters.

The partymen came down heavily on their own leaders alleging that they do not stay in their constituencies as "they cannot leave the charm of Delhi".
"We have to go to Delhi to grab power in 2014 and not for picnic. It was said that leaders must remain in their respective areas and hear the grievances of the people instead of meeting ministers and senior leaders," Asmi, who heads the Maharashtra SP unit, said.
He said that in his address he raised matter of atrocities on Muslims and demanded action against those guilty of Muzaffarnagar incident.
"Minorities have immense hope from SP...There is a sense of disappointment among Muslims after the riots...Our government failed to check riots and we have to tell where the lapse was," he said.